Monday, December 11, 2017

How much water do you need every day?

You probably don't drink enough water. In fact, most people don't.

One thing you hear a lot is that the key to staying hydrated
is drinking eight glasses of water a day (or some say a gallon a day). While this is a good rule of thumb, the easiest way to know how much to drink is to simply obey
your thirst. Drink when your body tells you it’s thirsty! Don’t wait. By
the time you feel really dry, you've already lost 1 to 2 percent of your
body’s water.

There are a few ways you can judge whether you’re hydrated enough. For one thing, if
your urine is clear or pale yellow, you’re set. You can also measure it
by drinking as much water as it takes to keep your lips and mouth moist
throughout the day.

If you’re tired, you may be dehydrated. One hidden cause of fatigue
is mild dehydration. Just a little deficit can make you feel drained. If you’re feeling somewhat low on energy, a glass of water (instead of a candy bar) may be the jolt you actually need.

Also, remember to sip - not gulp - to get what your body craves. In one
study from the University of Toronto, people who downed a glass of water
in 15 minutes quickly eliminated most of it the next time they hit the restroom. But those who slowly sipped held on to much more.

In addition to drinking, you can munch, crunch and spoon up
water-rich foods. Instead of just drinking water, think about how you
can fit fruit, veggies and dairy products into your diet, too. Most healthy foods
are also a great source of additional fluids and provide about 20
percent of your daily water needs.

Try these water-rich foods:

Another added benefit of staying hydrated is weight loss. In a University
of Illinois study, people who drank one, two or three extra glasses of
water a day took in between 68 and 205 fewer calories and cut their
intake of salt and sugar. Also, two Virginia Tech studies showed that
drinking water before meals cut calorie intake by 13 percent and helped
middle-aged men and women lose more weight than those who didn’t drink
water before their meals.

Lastly, many of the effects of aging are due to dehydration. The advice to eat water rich foods is something you shouldn't ignore. Honestly, they should be most of what you eat. Of course, at least once a day, you can enjoy a water-rich meal replacement shake - like Shakeology.

Just remember: in your daily habits, in your food choices and in your lifestyle overall, always think of hydration.